. Try to keep the tape as straight as possible while measuring.
Liquid-Level Tape Measures. Also known as oil-gauging tapes, use these tape measures to check the level of oil and other fluids in deep, large containers such as tanks and vats. Tank-Level and Depth-Measuring Rope. Attach a plumb bob (sold separately) to the rope’s hook and lower it into your tank to take a measurement.
If it sags, you won’t get an accurate read. If you are marking your measurement, use a “v” (instead of a single line) for accuracy, with the bottom point directly on your measurement. When you’re done with the tape measure, try not to allow the tape to slam back into the housing at full speed. A good habit is to place your finger below the tape on the housing as a buffer between the tab and the housing when the tape recoils. Better yet, reel it in slowly so you don’t hurt your finger.
If you’re like me, you’ve probably always measured interiors/windows the same way; by hooking the tape on one end, and bending the tape at the corner of the other end, then estimating the approximate length. This may work out once in a while, but there is actually a much more accurate way, using the numbers marked on the housing. If you look at the back of your tape measure, just beneath the belt clip, you should see the measurement of your actual tape measure housing, which comes in handy when measuring the interior of something like a drawer or window.
You can calculate it but I find it much easier to just look at areference chart.For example, I just calculated an angled cut to make on my tablesaw using the Pythagorean theorem. One of the cuts needs to be 3.19inches. My tape measure is accurate to a 32nd of an inch so I lookup 0.19 in the column below.I see that 6/32 matches, which equals 3/16. So I need to cut apiece 3 & 3/16 inches long.My next cut wasn't so lucky.
I needed 2.08 inches and theclosest I can get using my tape measure is 3/32. It's a tad longbut it'll work for what I'm doing.If you need more precise measurements then you should usesomething more accurate than a tape measure.Sorry for the ugly formatting. This website won't let you pastea chart.1/32.